Masturbation: An Islamic Perspective[1]
By Dr. Muhammad al – Jibaaly[2]
Alhamdulilah. Indeed, all praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from our souls’ evil and our wrong doings. He whom Allaah guides, no one can misguide; and he whom He misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no (true) God except Allah – alone without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His ‘Abd (servant) and messenger
A. Ruling
Masturbation is the stimulation of one’s sexual organs using one’s hand or any external tool for this purpose. Stimulation of one’s sexual organs by one’s spouse normally comes under ‘fondling and foreplay’ rather than masturbation.
Masturbation is prohibited for both men and women. Allah, the Most High says,
“And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts) Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame; But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors;”[3]
In the above, Allaah does not allow venting one’s sexual desire except with one’s spouse or with one’s owned female slave (for men). For those who cannot afford marriage, Allaah does not give them masturbation as an option; rather. He commands them to maintain chastity:
“And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allâh enriches them of His Bounty…”[4]
Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded the young people to marry, and advised those who cannot afford it to fast in order to control their sexual desire. Masturbation was never an alternative.
Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him): We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatever. So Allah's Apostle said,
"O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.”[5]
B. Causes
Even though masturbation is an abnormal and ugly act, it is widely practiced in our time. This has many reasons, among which are the following:
1. Weak commitment to Islaam. The sexual desire can only be restrained by strong faith, perseverance for the pleasure of Allaah, and fearing Allaah.
2. Delaying marriage for no Shari’ee[6] reasons, such as requiring high dowries or using criteria for marriage other than that established in the Sunnah.[7]
3. Using artificial means for sexual arousal, such as watching provocative movies, looking at provocative pictures, reading provocative stories, listening to provocative talk and music, and going to places where the ‘Awrahs[8] of people are exposed (beaches, nightclubs, etc).
4. Listening to disbelievers’ arguments. Many Western behavioural and so – called social scientists, such as Freud, declare that masturbation is perfectly acceptable and has no harmful effects. Those ‘scientists’ have similar approaches with other sexual aberrations. Their misconceptions have poisoned the thoughts of most people in our time, have given them a deviant understanding of many aspects of human sexuality, and have made sexual aberrations – even the extreme ones, like homosexuality – acceptable by many people.
5. Unsubstantiated misconceptions that are mostly based on the wrong opinions of the above – mentioned ‘scientists’. Among those misconceptions are the following:
a. Abstinence causes the sexual organs to shrink and lose their functionality. This is not true and has no scientific basis.
b. Abstinence causes continual arousal of the sexual organs. This is false, and the contrary is true. It is scientifically demonstrated that repeated performance of sexual acts causes excessive and continual arousal o the sexual system, which also results in weakening one’s will – power and determination. Abstinence, on the other hand, helps cool the desire – provided that one brushes off illicit thoughts and fantasies.
c. Abstinence leads to a loss or decline in the body’s production of the seminal fluid. Again, the opposite is true. Excessive sexual involvement and induced ejaculation cause an early decline in seminal production. On the other hand, if the body finds excess of seminal production because of abstinence, it is naturally eliminated after urination or through wet dreams.
6. Accepting false arguments from some ‘Islaamic’ scholars who permit masturbation claiming that it protects against the greater sin of Zinaa[9]. The short – sightedness of such ‘scholars’ prevents them from realising that:
a. Masturbation is clearly prohibited by the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah (see above), and there is consensus among the prominent ‘ulamaa’[10] of Islaam in this regard.
b. Masturbation has many harms, some of which are comparable to Zinaa (see above).
c. Masturbation is one of the important incentives for Zinaa. When one is a willing slave and prisoner of his lust, he becomes ready to fulfil it by any means, permissible or prohibited. Thus, Zinaa becomes a feasible alternative that would seriously be considered if the occasion presents itself.
C. Harms
In addition to what has been indicated above, masturbation has many other harms, among which are the following:
1. Harm to the deen[11]. Masturbation is a sin that puts a barrier between the ‘abd[12] and his Lord, reducing the love of Allaah in his heart and making sinning acceptable to him.
2. Harm to the character. Masturbation weakens one’s determination, reduces one’s opposition to sinning, and causes one a loss of self – esteem.
3. Harm to the pure nature (fitrah[13]). Masturbation is an addictive practice that makes one derive pleasure only through it. This makes it difficult for one to enjoy the permissible and correct method of venting one’s desire: marriage
D. Protection and Cure
In what follows we outline some of the important means of protection against masturbation:
1. Fearing and revering Allaah at all times
2. Getting married as early as possible.
3. Keeping company of the righteous believers and avoiding solitude or company of the sinful.
4. Lowering the gaze and avoiding looking as what Allah has prohibited.[14]
5. Keep busy with acts of obedience.
6. Understanding the danger of the wrong views about masturbation (as explained above).
7. Fasting as often as possible.
8. Following the etiquettes for sleep (sleeping early, sleeping with Wudoo’[15], saying the Thikrs and supplications on the right side, etc).
9. Striving patiently to obey Allaah and avoid sinning, remembering the high rewards that Allaah promised for the patient.
10. Repenting to Allaah and doing much good in order to overcome the evil thoughts and actions that one does.
And It is Only Allah Who grants success. May Allah Exalt the mention of His slave and Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), and render him, his household and companion safe from Evil
[1] I have been receiving emails about this (from Muslim brothers and sisters) and decided to post this beneficial article in order to answer all their questions.
[2] Taken from ‘Closer than a Garment’, p. 101 – 106, Revised Edition , al – Kitaab & as – Sunnah Publishing, 2005
[3] The Noble Qur’aan, Soorah Al-Mu'minun 23:5 – 7 and Soorah al – Ma’aarij 70:29 – 31
[4] The Noble Qur’aan, Soorah An-Nur 24:33
[5] (Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 4; Saheeh Muslim, Book 008, Number 3233
[6] Legislated or permitted matter in Islaam
[7] Refer to ‘The Quest of Love and Mercy’ by the same author
[8] Refer to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Islam_True/message/456
[9] Adultery or Fornication
[10] Plural for ‘Aalim: A scholar or learned man in Islaam
[11] Religion (of Islaam)
[12] Slave, servant or worshipper
[13] The pure nature upon which Allah created people
[14] Refer to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Islam_True/message/160
[15] Refer to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Islam_True/message/83